Weekend Words

 From In Green Pastures...

A Beautiful Life

A life need not be great to be beautiful.  There may be as much beauty in a tiny flower as in a majestic tree, in a little gem as in a great mountain, in the smallest creatures as in a mammoth.  A life may be very lovely and yet be insignificant in the world's eyes.  A beautiful life is one that fulfils its mission in this world, that is what God made it to be, and does what God made it to do.  Those with commonplace gifts are in danger of thinking that they cannot live a beautiful life, cannot be a blessing in this world.  But the smallest life that fills its place well is far lovelier in God's sight than the largest and most splendidly gifted that yet fails of its divine mission.

"Far better in its place the lowliest bird

should sing aright to Him the lowliest song,

Than that a seraph strayed should take the word

And sing his glory wrong."

From Our Daily Bread...

Five Good Things - Read: Psalm 107:1-9

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever." - Psalm 107:1

According to research, people who are intentionally grateful for what they have report better sleep, fewer symptoms of illness, and more happiness.  Those are impressive benefits.  Psychologists even suggest keeping a "gratitude journal" to improve our well-being, writing down five things we're grateful for each week.

Scripture has long promoted the practice of gratitude.  From meals and marriage (1 Timothy 4:3-5) to the beauties of creation (Psalm 104), the Bible has called us to see such things as gifts and to thank the Giver for them.  Psalm 107 lists 5 things Israel could be especially grateful for: their rescue from the desert (vv. 4-9), their release from captivity (vv. 10-16), healing from disease (vv. 18-22), safety at sea (vv. 23-32), and their flourishing in a barren land (vv. 33-42).  "Give thanks to the Lord," the psalm repeats, for these are all signs of God's "unfailing love" (vv. 8, 15, 21, 31).

Do you have a notepad handy?  Why not write down five good things you're grateful for now?  It might be the meal you just enjoyed, your marriage or, like Israel, God's rescue points in your life to date.  Give thanks for the birds singing outside, the smells in your kitchen, the comfort of your chair, the murmurs of loved ones.  Each is a gift and a sign of God's unfailing love.

- Sheridan Voysey

From Amish Peace...

Words Alone

"The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created.  He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.  He assigned the sea its boundaries and locked the ocean in vast reservoirs.  Let the whole world fear the Lord, and let everyone stand in awe of him" - Psalm 33:6-8

When I pull out my favorite Amish cookbook, I immediately read the ingredients.  Do I have everything I need?  It doesn't matter if I have the desire or the skill to make the recipe; if I don't have the right ingredients, I'm not going to get anywhere.

When an Amish wife cooks a meal, she turns to the pantry for supplies.  When Amish men prepare for a barn raising, they order supplies from the hardware store.  We understand how things come from other things, yet it's hard to wrap our minds around the fact that with God everything came from nothing at all.  Words created the world.  God's breath hung the stars:  "By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen" (Hebrews 11:3).

In our world, many put their trust in science and the knowledge of humanity.  They attempt to explain the world without figuring God into the equation.  They ignore the beauty of creation's design.  But everything is different when we see the world as the handiwork of a Creator.

"Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing whom to thank," the Amish say.  What do you see when you look at the world around you?  Whom do you thank?

Today when you step outside your door, look around and let your heart be filled with awe.  Take time to thank your Creator.  His Word, the Bible, is something you can stand on.  And the world, created by His words, is something to marvel at. 

Let us join together and stand in awe of Him.